Royal Hotel Sanremo: In the Footsteps of Royals on the Riviera of Flowers

| Thu, 05/16/2024 - 13:12

Royal Hotel Sanremo facade and pool

Ed.: The Inspired Stays series highlights hotels we love around Italy. Each property is independently reviewed by an Italy Magazine writer, who is generally hosted on a complimentary basis. Our contributors do not accept compensation or gifts in exchange for specific types of coverage. We only showcase properties we would genuinely recommend overall.

Why we love it

With its classical paintings, grand marble staircase and period suites, Royal Hotel Sanremo is a portal to another time. Stay in rooms where European royalty sojourned, relax in the Gio Ponti-designed saltwater pool, and dine under dazzling Murano glass flowers in the Fiori di Murano restaurant.

What to expect

terrace at the Royal Hotel Sanremo — *Cocktail hour views at Royal Hotel Sanremo*

Côte d’Azur luxury and Italian hospitality merge in this beachfront resort, built as a winter refuge for wealthy holiday-goers, celebrities and royals. The place retains its turn-of-the-century glamour in its interior details — antique furniture, damask curtains, tropical gardens — and approach to guest services. You’ll be pampered like Empress Sissi of Austria, a famous guest whose name graces one of the suites.

Background

Built in 1872 by the Bertolini family of hoteliers, the Royal Hotel Sanremo was originally surrounded by olive groves. It was a prime location, just next to the newly built train station on the waterfront, perfect for welcoming its affluent guests. It was then damaged in the war, after which the dining room and pool were added, making the hotel a year-round destination. Today, it’s still owned by Bertolini descendants and is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Location, location, location

The Riviera dei Fiori (Riviera of Flowers) is famous for its ornamental flower farms, but the predilection for bright blooms is visible in every coastal town. The hotel overlooks the sapphire Mar Ligure and is a short walk to downtown Sanremo, famous for the music festival held every February. It is also convenient for exploring the Ligurian Alps, and the Nice international airport is just an hour away.

Where you’ll sleep

The rooms are period style and are broken down into standard, superior, junior suite, junior suite deluxe, suite, and exclusive queen suite. All have balconies overlooking either the sea or the hills. Top floor rooms have sea-view private terraces with lounge chairs and small tables. The Sissi Exclusive Suite has a large terrace with gazebo and dining table along with a jacuzzi, as does the Aurora, a corner suite with a perfect sunrise view over the sea.

Dining & drinks

Rose Bar at Royal Hotel Sanremo — *Bar delle Rose at Royal Hotel Sanremo*

The hotel’s premier dining space, open year-round, is the dining Fiori di Murano restaurant in the main dining room with sea views and Murano glass decorations. In the summer, the poolside Corallina restaurant serves snacks and more informal lunches, and pizza in the evening — perfect after an afternoon swim! The terrace garden is the setting of the romantic Il Giardino restaurant. Here, you can also book private dinners under the gazebos. Inside, the swanky Bar delle Rose is open for drinks and becomes a piano bar on weekends.

Service notes

The friendly, uniformed valets greet you on arrival. Attentive staff speak many languages and can help book experiences like a day at the Circolo degli Ulivi Golf club, shopping trips, hiking and biking tours, whale and dolphin-watching trips, and boat (or yacht, if that’s your thing) rentals.

Spa time

Access to the Wellness area is included in every stay. In addition to the heated, waterfront pool, the area features a jacuzzi pool, “emotional” showers (characterized by variations in water pressure and temperature), a steam room, lounge area and gym. Massages and other treatments at the salon can be booked separately.

Family perks

Families will love the large pool, easy beach access and on-site mini golf course. There is also a poolside kids’ club in the summer and a children’s room inside. Pizza dinners at the Corallina restaurant are, of course, a family favorite.

You should know...

Just a small sample of the famous guests who have stayed here: Grace Kelly, Savoy princes and princesses, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Luciano Pavarotti, the members of Queen, Jennifer Lopez, Sophia Loren, and a dizzying number of others.